Chariots of Fire to hit the stage at Hampstead Theatre

Chariots of Fire to hit the stage at Hampstead Theatre

14 November, 2011
by: Spoonfed Theatre Team

Hugh Hudson says the 1981 Chariots of Fire film will soon be turned into a play at Hampstead Theatre.

Hugh Hudson, director of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, last night revealed that the classic inspirational sports movie, the one Gordon Brown has called his favourite film of all time, is to be turned into a play at Hampstead Theatre. The show will be directed by Ed Hall and playwright Mike Bartlett will adapt the script. Dates and cast are yet to be announced.

Speaking during a Q&A following the Olympic Gala screening of Chariots of Fire, which was shown as part of UK Jewish Film Festival 2011, Hudson said “Chariots of Fire is a brand, certainly the music is. It's a healthy, upbeat film, which is what we need more of today.”

The film follows the parallel stories of Eric Liddell (Ian Harleson) and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), two runners at King's College, Cambridge in the 1920s. Liddell, a missionary Christian, faces challenges to his beliefs and his position as a role model in his community, while Abrahams is on a mission to prove he can be the best despite the prejudice he faces as a Jew. The film won four out of the eight Oscars it was nominated for in 1982 including Best Picture and Original Music Score and Original Screenplay.

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Spoonfed Theatre Team